Tropical Storm Helene has recently formed in the Caribbean Sea, prompting forecasters to warn that it could intensify into a major hurricane as it moves north towards the United States. The storm has already caused heavy rains and large waves in the Cayman Islands, leading to some Florida residents beginning to evacuate or prepare for potential flooding. Hurricane warnings have been issued for the northwestern Florida coastline and parts of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, with hurricane watches in place for western Cuba and Florida, including Tampa Bay.

As of now, the storm is located approximately 150 miles south of the western tip of Cuba, with sustained winds of 50 mph and moving northwest at 12 mph. Forecasters anticipate that Helene will be upgraded to a hurricane by Wednesday and may become a major hurricane by Thursday as it approaches the Gulf Coast. President Joe Biden has declared a state of emergency in Florida, with federal authorities mobilizing resources such as generators, food, water, search-and-rescue teams, and power restoration teams in preparation for the storm's impact.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has expanded the high-risk area to include more counties in anticipation of Helene's landfall, urging residents to take necessary precautions and heed evacuation orders. The storm's magnitude has prompted NASA and SpaceX to postpone an astronaut launch scheduled for Thursday to at least Saturday, while Florida A&M University has rescheduled a college football game. Larry Kelly from the National Hurricane Center emphasized the importance of staying informed about the storm's progress and following guidance from local authorities, especially as Helene is expected to have far-reaching effects across Florida.